CITY & COUNTY
COMPILED BY ANDREWCHRISTMAN AND BEN THOMPSON
News fromOak Ridge North and Shenandoah
Oak Ridge North adopts 7 HUD requirements OAK RIDGE NORTH The Oak Ridge
Shenandoah council denies developer’s permit appeal for five houses despite new state law
residents’ concerns about recent flooding and the presence of debris in portions of drainage ditches. During his department report, Sherwin shared more information about the area’s drainage capacity in the wake of recent storms and city efforts to assist residents during severe weather events. “We just don’t have the ability to go out there with a broom every time somebody drops some leaves in the storm drain,” Sherwin said. “The real issue is they got water in their house, and you can’t explain that away well enough to take the damage and the heartbreak out ... We’re going to continue to do our maintenance as best as we can as often as we can.” “YOUR [$]840,000 COMES WITH STRINGS, AND THE STRINGS ARE YOU HAVE TO PASS CERTAIN CIVIL RIGHTS POLICIES. AND IT’S AN ALL-OR- NOTHING DEAL.” —CHRIS NICHOLS, OAK RIDGE NORTH CITY ATTORNEY
North City Council on Nov. 13 approved the adoption of seven civil rights policies and proce- dures to allow it to move forward on the development of a new regional detention basin on Spring Pines Drive. The city is constructing the basin with $840,000 in funding from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development disaster recovery grant program, and while the project itself is unrelated to housing the city must comply with HUD policies to receive the funding. “Your [$]840,000 comes with strings, and the strings are you have to pass certain civil rights policies. And it’s an all-or-nothing deal,” City Attorney Chris Nichols said. According to Director of Public Works Joe Sherwin, the project is expected to begin construction in spring 2020 and to be completed by fall 2021. Prior to discussing the agenda item, council also heard several local
SHENANDOAH The Shenandoah City Council unanimously voted Nov. 13 to deny developer PHSH Construction’s appeal for five new home permits near Shenandoah Park Drive. During a previous hearing, PHSH Construction attorneys Joseph Ander- son and Ian Faria said House Bill 2439, signed into law earlier this year, prohibits cities from regulating build- ing materials for new developments beyond national standards. Anderson said the developer proposed using 60% masonry on the front and rear elevations of the houses and 60% masonry on the side eleva- tions that are more than 10 feet from another unit. Units constructed for the area designated as the live/work section of the development will consist of 80% masonry. Anderson said the require- ments would be incorporated into the Centro Homeowners Association. “We believe this is a reasonable offer to compromise,” Anderson said.
Shenandoah Mayor Ritch Wheeler said the biggest concern the council has is how well the development will withstand the test of time. “Do we want to put something out there ... that is not going to hold its value because somebody wants to be able to sell it at a minimally less sales price today?” Wheeler said. The City Council voted 5-0 to deny the appeal. Wheeler said future action is up to the developer. ENFORCING STANDARDS Under House Bill 2439, signed into law in June, building material standards in cities must generally be no more restrictive than national standards. Prior to HB 2439: • Shenandoah construction must include at least 60%masonry After HB 2439: • Shenandoah cannot set masonry requirements SOURCE:CITYOFSHENANDOAH/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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The Woodlands edition • December 2019
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